Hose-supporter clasp



W. H. 'PUMPHREY. HOSE SUPPORTER CLASP.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.18,I921.

muted May 31, 1921.

INVENTOR nnrreo STATES PATENT OFFHQE.

WALTER HYERS PUMPHREY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

HOSE-SUPPORTER CLASP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 31, 1921.

Application filed January 18, 1921. Serial No. 438,257.

My invention, while not limited in its use,

relates particularly to. womens hose supporters and is designed to meet the following well known requirements of the wearer:

First: The hose-supporter clasp is easily and readily engaged and disengaged without requiring special instruction or skill inthe manipulation of the members of the clasp.

Second: Once engaged, there is no tendency of the clasp to work loose or become disengaged, but, on the contrary, the greater the strain put upon the clasp, the more securely the clasp members interlock.

Third: The grip of the clasp upon the stocking, while firm, is cushioned to protect the stocking material frombeing worn or cut by the clasp.

Fourth: The clasp grips the stocking across the threads or at right angles toits length, and by thus distributing the strain over a great number of threads, the danger of the threads breaking,'pulling and cansing runs in the stocking is reduced to a minimum. 7

Fifth: The clasp is very thin and flat, and being free of noticeable or objectionable projections, will not show when silk or other fine dress material is drawn tightly over it, as commonly happens with front garters, when the wearer is seated. It may also be added that by reason of the above described form given the clasp, no inconvenience or discomfort results when the wearer sits upon the rear garters.

The clasp is designed furthermore to meet the following well known requirements of the manufacturer:

First, it consists of only two members, each formed of a single piece of metal capable of being stamped out and shaped in one operation.

Second: No rubber is essentially required in its construction, the use of rubber or equivalent material being entirely optional.

Third: A full cushioned effect for the stocking material is obtained by covering the olasp mem er P efera y with ordie nary, non-elastic webbing, which may form part of or be attached as a continuation of the supporting webbing of the clasp. Obviously a covering or coating of any other material suitable for cushioning the stock mg, may be substituted, if desired.

Fourth: The clasp members are so extremely simple in construction that only comparatively inexpensive tools will be required to produce the same in quantity.

Fifth: The quantity and weight of metal employed is reduced to a minimum as the clasp is designed to be made very small, thin, fiat and light.

A construction of the clasp, suitable for carrying my invention into effect, is illustrated in the accompanying sheet of drawings, throughout the several views of which like reference characters indicate like parts.

In the drawings Figure 1, is a view in diagram, showing the clasp which is very much enlarged over actual size for clearness of illustration, as it appears in use supporting the stocking;

Fig. 2, is a front view of the outer member of the clasp, and

Fig. 3, is a similar view of the inner member and its inclosing loop, with a dotted line representation of the outer member in engagement therewith.

Referring now to the drawings-1 indicates the inner member of the clasp, z. 6., that member designed to be placed inside the stocking and 2, the outer member, intended to be worn outside the stocking.

The inner member consists simply of a strip of thin metal, which is given an undulating, or corrugated form throughout its length, with the undulations or corrugations running transversely thereof.

The form thus given the inner member provides two concavities 3, 3, on the inner side, located one at or near each end thereof and separatedand spaced apart by a convexed portion 4. On the outer side there is the exact reverse, i. 6., terminal convexities 5, 5, and an intermediate concavity 6.

In the clasp herein shown as one of the forms suitable for embodying my invention, the inner member is designed to serve as shaping means or a distender for a terminal loop 7, of the clasp supporting webbin 8, which is usually attached to thecorset Fnot shown).

When placed in the loop 17, the distender has contact with and provides an unyielding support for certain portions only of the webbing of the loop, leaving the other portions thereof tree to yield. That is to say, the webbings the opposite sides of the loop are maintained in substantial parallelism and bridge the concavities and lie in close relation to each other, conforming to the conveXed portions of the distender.

As appears from the drawing, the yielding portions at the ends of the loop and the portions thereof that are unyieldingly supported by the distender, are in alternating relation, a yielding section on one side of the distender being directly opposite an unyielding section of the loop on the opposite side of the distender.

As shown, there are six sections, in all, three yielding and three unyielding, and it is the first named that provide a cushioned eil'ect for stockings ,when in the grip of the clasp, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

In forming the loop at the lower end of the clasp supporting webbing, it is preterably closed at about the point 8, somewhat above the extreme end 9, on the webbing, so that the free end 9, lies within the loop. This avoids an additional thickness of web bing at the upper end of the inner member and also disposes of the free end which, otherwise, would have to be secured and nicely finished in presentable style outside of the loop.

While I have described at some length, the use of the supporting webbin as a covering for cushioning the inner member-ct the clasp, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to this as an essential feature, as it will be apparent that any covering or coating of any other material th t will give practically the same cushioning feet for the protection of the stocking, n be substituted for the loop of webbing. If, for example, the cost oi? production is not limited, a nigh grade, nicely finished leather may be used and it, on the other hand, the cost is limited, it may prove necessary to resort to coating the inner member with some material or composition of matter sufii ciently elastic to present the yielding surfaces, above described, upon opposite sides thereof. Any such changes as just suggest ed, are manifestly mere substitutions of one material for another, and therefore, entirely within the scope oi? the present invention. v

The outer member 2, of practically the same undulating or corrugated form as the inner member, but somewhat wider than the latter, is reduced to skeleton form, consisting simply of four parallel transverse bars, 10, 11, 12 and 13, connected by longitudinally extending side strips 1a., 14-,

It may be mentioned here that the outer member performs no supporting function but serves primarily and only to securely grip the stocking upon the inner member, by which latter it is supported. This belng true, it will be seen that any suitable means may be employed to attach the outer member to the garter, the only purpose served is to secure it against being lost or misplaced. In the drawing, the member is shown attached by a piece of webbing 15.

In use, the inner member, held in one hand, is placed inside the stocking and pressed outward in a manner common to the manipulation of two piece clasps, T he outer member grasped in the other hand, is caused to engage the inner member by first placing the cross bar 10 under the lower end thereof, than c rawing the outer member upward far enough to enable the cross bar 12, to he slipped over the upper end Of the inner member and upon release of the clasp members, the pull of the stocking, caught between them, will cause the members to become relatively adjusted to the position shown in Fig. 1, in which the cross bars 1O, 11 and 12, of the outer member, engage and bind the stocking against the yielding sections of the inner member, along lines at rightangles to the length of the stocking.

To disengage the clasp, it is on-y necessary to draw the outer member upward tar enough to slip the cross bar 12 thereof from under theupper end the inner member and the pull of the stocking and the garter in opposite directions will free the members of the clasp at their lower ends.

Having, therefore, described my invention, 3 claim:

1. A hose supporter clasp con'iprising supporting webbing terminating in a loop, an undulating distender within the loop shaped to provide unyielding support for certain sections of the loop. leaving the other sections thereof, :t'ree and yielding, the yielding sections alternating with the unyielding sections and being oppositely disposed thereto upon opposite sides of the dis tender, and a cooperating member adapted to engage and bind the hose the yielding sections of the loop along lines, at right angles to the length of the hose.

2. A hose supporter clasp comprising supporting webbing terminating in a loop, a distender within the loop shaped to provide unyielding support for three sections of the loop, leaving three remaining sections thereof free and yielding, the yielding sections alternating with the unyielding" sections and being oppositely disposed to the unyielding sections upon opposite sides of the distender, and a cooperatin member adapted to engage and bind the hose against the yielding sections of the loop along lines at right angles to the length of the hose.

3. A hose supporter clasp comnrisin g supporting webbing terminating in a loop, an

undulating distender shaped to have contact between the center and the entreme ends free and yielding, and a cooperating memher adapted to engage and bind the hose against the yielding sections of the loop along lines at right angles to the length of the hose.

l. A hose supporter clasp comprising supporting webbing terminating in a loop, a distender shaped to provide unyielding support for three sections of the loop, leaving the three intervening sections thereof tree and yielding and a cooperating member having three transversely extending portions adapted to engage and bind the hose against the three yielding sections and along lines at right angles to the length of the hose.

5. A hose supporter clasp comprising supporting Webbing terminating in a loop, a distender of undulating form within the loop for shaping the loop to present, in alternating relation, yielding and non-yielding sections, and a cooperating member adapted to engage and bind the hose against such yielding sections along lines at right angles to the length of the hose.

6. A hose supporter clasp comprising supporting webbing terminating in a loop in which the extreme end of the webbing is contained, a distender of undulating form within the loop for shaping the loop to present, in alternating relation, yielding and unyielding sections, and a coiiperating member adapted to engage and bind the hose against such yielding sections along lines at right angles to the length of the hose.

7. A hose supporter clasp comprising supporting webbing terminating in a loop, undulating shaping means within the loop, the said shaping means being of a form to sup port the webbing in a straight, flat condition upon opposite sides thereof and proviyieldino' support throughout certain sections only of loop, leaving the other sections thereof lying substantially in the plane of the shaping means treeand yielding, and a cooperating member ada Dted to engage and bind the hose against such yielding sections of the loop along lines at right angles to the length of the hose.

8. hose supporter clasp comprising supporting webbing terminating in a loop, undulating shaping means within the loop, the said shaping means being of a form to support the webbing in a straight or flat condition upon opposite sides thereof and provide unyielding support throughout certain sections only oi the loop, leaving the other sections thereof lying substantially in the plane of the shaping means free and yield ing, the said yielding and unyielding sections being arranged in alternating relation and a cooperating member adapted to engage and bind the hose against such yielding sections alol'ig lines at right angles to the length of the hose.

9, A hose supporter clasp comprising supporting webbing terminating in a loop, undulating shaping means Within the loop, the said shaping means being formed to have contact with the material of the loop at certain points only, leaving the intervening portions thereof tree and yielding, and lying substantially straight and in the plane or" the shaping means and a cooperating memher adapted to engage and bind the hose against the said yielding portions of the loop along lines at right an les to the length of the hose.

10. A hose supporter clasp comprising an inner member of an undulating form throughout its length, and an undulating outer member having a plurality of cross bars lying within the depressions of the undulations of the inner member and binding the hose therein along lines at right angles to the length of the hose.

11. A hose supporter clasp comprising an inner member of an undulating form throughout its length, and an undulating outer member having a plurality of cross bars lying within the depressions of the undulations of the in -er member upon opposite sides thereof, and binding the hose therein along lines at right angles to the length of the hose.

12. A hose supporter clasp comprising an inner member of an undulating form throughout its length, and a cooperating outer member shaped to engage and bind the hose against opposite sides of the inner member along lines at right angles'to the length of the hose.

13. A hose supporter clasp comprising an inner member of an undulating form throughout its len th and a cotioeratin as 7 i in outer member having cross bars extending transve .ely of the inner member and adapted to lie in the depressions formed by the undulations thereof and bind the hose therein along lines at right angles to the length of the hose.

1a. A hose supporter clasp comprising an inner and an outer member both corrugated throughout their length, with the corrugations running transversely thereof, the outer member being cut away to provide a series of connected transverse bars relatively spaced to lie in the depressions of the corrugations ot the inner member when the members are engaged and bind the hose therein along lines at right angles to the length of the hose.

15. A hose supporter clasp comprising an inner cushioned member of undulating form, a cooperating outer member shaped to engage and b nd e hose ag inst opp site sides of the inner member along lines parthe opposite cushioned surfaces of the inner allel with the undulations thereof and at member and along lines at right angles to 10 right angles to the length of the hose. the length of the hose.

16. A hose supporter clasp compr slng an WALTER HYERS PUMPHREY inner unclulatlng member, a piotectlve covering of cushioning material for the inner Witnesses:

member, and a cooperating outer member ELLA SIMAO,

shaped to engage and bind the hose against EMILY LINDLEY. 

